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Much like the practice of medicine, cyber security in Canada, and around the world, is an evolving discipline. For this reason, there is no single "correct" approach that will safeguard your healthcare clinic from all threats. But there is much that you can do.

The Canadian Federal government has just announced a certification program based on an extremely helpful set of standards designed specifically to help protect small and medium businesses from a majority of threats. Businesses such as your medical clinic.

And best of all, it can be achieved with a modest amount of effort. Intrigued? Read on.

There was a time last year when people were asking whether Ransomware is really as much of a problem as it was a few years ago.

No longer.

This update shares what has been happening that has been giving cyber experts concern recently, together with some important steps that you can take to reduce the chances of your clinic from becoming a victim.

Everyone knows that the more complicated and unique a password is, the harder it is for hackers to discover it.

But passwords must also be unique. Otherwise, one account that becomes compromised can cascade into a nightmare of a long list of compromised accounts. Including, perhaps some very important ones. Your clinic network or EMR, perhaps. Or your banking records.

So, how can you create complex passwords, are truly unique, and yet are easy to use? Here are two methods that can help

Today is International Privacy Day. And with this in mind, together with events taking place across the province over the coming week as part of "BC Aware", a major IT security awareness conference, here are some helpful materials, courtesy of Doctors of BC, that your medical clinic can use right now.

It has been a busy year since our last series of journal posts on clinic security. Thanks to work we have been doing with our healthcare clients in BC, we would like to update you on new developments and emerging best practice standards.

The emergence of ransomware as a worldwide issue reached its height in 2017, but it does not mean it has gone away. Worldwide ransomware attacks can be devastating. Could my clinic be affected? When I hear news of a massive attack underway, what can I do to protect myself?

Here is a presentation we gave while an attack was actually underway. What we presented during the meeting are practical, low-cost steps that can help mitigate the risks of becoming a victim.

We are complicated creatures of habit. We tend to do things, more or less, because that’s the way we have always done them. Your patient’s confidential information may be put at risk simply because staff may not be aware of what they must do.